Drivers who pulled into Hele's Renton Road station in Ewa Beach last Friday thought they were topping off with regular unleaded. Instead, some rolled away with gasoline contaminated with water during a roughly three-hour window, leaving engines sputtering and wallets potentially lighter. Company and state officials say only the 87-octane standard-grade pumps were affected and that 26 vehicles have reported problems after filling up. The incident came on the heels of a localized power outage, and officials note the station had already stopped selling fuel after an alarm on Wednesday, March 11.
Par Pacific: Tanks Shut Off As Investigators Eye Spill-Bucket Problem
In a statement to KHON2, Par Pacific vice president John Peyton said crews shut off the underground tanks at the Ewa location, halted sales and have been working with affected customers on possible solutions. Peyton told KHON2 that the station is operated by a third party and that investigators believe a problem with the spill bucket used during refilling of the tanks allowed water into the fuel.
Power Outage, System Alarms And A Fuel Expert's Red Flag
KHON2 reports that the bad gas was sold during a roughly 7 to 10 p.m. stretch and that the issue followed a power outage in the area. Industry consultant Rick Cohen told the station that water in underground storage tanks is "extremely rare" because tanks are watched by sophisticated monitoring systems. If a driver does get a heavy dose of water-contaminated fuel, Cohen said you would likely "feel your car sputter and die within a half mile to a mile of the station." State officials say the site had stopped selling fuel after getting an alarm earlier this month while crews investigated.
What Drivers Should Do Now
If you filled up at the Renton Road Hele during the reported window and your vehicle is acting up, hold onto that pump receipt, take photos and jot down any engine trouble, warning lights or unusual sounds. Par Hawaii, the company that operates the Hele brand in Hawaii, lists corporate contact details and a help email on its site for customers seeking assistance, and Par Hawaii is where that information is posted.
Local motorists have also traded war stories and troubleshooting tips in community forums, including a Reddit thread that collected multiple accounts from people who said they experienced engine trouble after recent fill-ups in the same general area.
Legal Options And Next Steps
Drivers who suspect their vehicles were damaged by contaminated fuel should save receipts, photos and written repair estimates, since those records will be essential if they seek reimbursement from the station operator or from an insurer. If the station does not cooperate, or if repair bills stack up, consumers may want to contact state consumer-protection authorities or consult an attorney about possible claims.
